IIC approves testbed on sensor-to-the-cloud connectivity

The objective of sensor-to-the-cloud connectivity is to make sensor data available to information technology (IT) systems in near real time, enabling advanced analytics.

This is of particular interest to operators of existing manufacturing facilities, as it provides them with opportunities to increase efficiencies through reductions in energy consumption.

Unlike new deployments, where the appropriate connectivity may be designed in from the beginning, smart solutions are required for these "brownfield" installations in order to enable easy integration at both the operational technology (OT) and the IT level to reduce downtime and save costs. "Working with partners within the IIC, TE has once again demonstrated its expertise in the field of intelligent solutions for future industrial data communications," says Ulrich Wallenhorst, vice president & chief technology officer, Business Development & Strategy at TE. "This testbed is an excellent demonstration of how our smart technology can be used to connect devices, sensors and communication architectures that exist at different levels in existing industrial infrastructures to ensure a smooth flow of information from the field to the cloud and to enable data analytics."

The Smart Manufacturing Connectivity for Brownfield Sensors Testbed will introduce a retrofit hardware solution (the "Y-Gateway") that makes use of existing physical connectivity and extract sensor data from the automation system without impacting operations.

It will deliver the sensor data to SAP's IT platform through a secure OT/IT communication based on OPC UA (IEC 62541) and define and implement a common device model based on an available open standard to allow for the easy integration of an IO-Link sensor with IT, enabling the remote configuration of the sensor

“Testbeds are a major focus and activity of the IIC and its members”, said IIC Executive Director, Dr. Richard Soley. "Our testbeds are where new technologies, applications, products, services and processes - the innovation and opportunities of the industrial Internet - can be initiated, thought through and rigorously tested to ascertain their usefulness and viability before coming to market.”